Unlike the in South Korea, this is a collaboration between Swiss bike maker BMC and the real Lamborghini car company. The BMC impec Edition is a version of the BMC’s impec bicycle, further developed with Lamborghini’s carbon-fiber experts and assembled using some automotive build techniques. It’s set off by a suede Lamborghini saddle and suede handlebar tape, as well as an -matching Argos Orange downtube.
Only 30 will be offered for sale, and you’ll need to have €20,000 ($26,172 U.S.) handy when you get to the cash register. Still with us? Then you can purchase it at your local Lamborghini dealer or a BMC bike retailer, and it’s on display now at Milan’s Brian&Barry boutique if you want to kick the tires. Softly.
We’ve all heard the argument that cars can’t be art. As a commodity, vehicles are slaves to parameters of functionality, manufacturing and economics that simply have no bearing on traditional works, but Canadian sculptor Pierre Arpin believes that shouldn’t stop car parts from ascending beyond their usual lot in life. While waiting in a repair shop, Arpin spotted a trashed hood and asked to take it home. The shop obliged, starting the artist down a lengthy path of creation. While he typically favors hoods, doors and radiators have also received his unique touch.
Arpin uses heat to remove the orignial paint before taking a grinder to the metal to create his unique designs. Depending on the work, paint may be reapplied afterward. The artist calls the process a type of “alchemy,” and says that the technique gives the pieces a certain level of “immortality.” We don’t know about that, but as people with various car body parts strewn about our offices, we can see the appeal.
In the wake of earlier this week, rolled out its Concept Style Coupe at the at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), yesterday. The “CSC” is expected to officially make its world debut at the next week, but the sneak preview gave us an early look at the four-door in the flesh.
Expected to ride atop Mercedes’ new MFA platform, the CSC is a close-to-production glimpse at the automaker’s long-awaited compact sedan ( when it arrives). Styled like a smaller version of the Mercedes-Benz , the CSC features sleek and aggressive bodywork over 20-inch turbine-style wheels. The roof features a large panoramic glass panel allowing plenty of light to spill into the four-place cabin. Under the hood of the concept is a turbocharged four-cylinder, rated at 211 horsepower, sending its power to the automaker’s 4Matic all-wheel drive system.
The art exhibit, open free of charge through May 6, is an interesting audio visual experience curated by Mike D of the Beastie Boys. The Mercedes-Benz CSC is shown in a dark room under banks of halogen lights that are choreographed to illuminate to the music (only audible by wearing headsets hung from the rafters). It was nearly impossible to take pictures, but we have updated our gallery with some supplied photography. Don’t forget to check out the press release below.
. A small claims court in California awarded Ms. Peters $9,867 because it agreed that her Honda Civic Hybrid failed to deliver the 50 mpg EPA rating claimed it would. According to The Detroit News, Honda is appealing the decision, especially after the success of Peters’s suit inspired 1,700 others to opt out of a 2003-2009 model year class action settlement, possibly portending a wave of one-shot litigation that the company would have to defend itself against.
Honda didn’t seem to take Heather Peters very seriously until it lost, but it now seems that the company is intent on not blowing its last chance to have the case reviewed. Peters will be presenting new evidence and both sides will get to argue their side of the issue to a judge, basically re-trying the initial case.
“So here’s the pitch. It’s a movie about a car. But it’s not really about a car. It’s about something else. What that is isn’t important. But it’s got a car in it. Not just one car, but lots of cars. Thousands of them actually. And they’re in almost every scene. But only in the background. And get this: They’re all… wait for it… yellow! And the best part is, we don’t have to pay anything for it, in fact, they’re going to pay us to put our cars in the movie. And it’s going to make our cars famous. But that’s not all. Imagine this: It’s not just one movie, but a hundred movies. And TV shows. Thousands and thousands of hours of entertainment, and our new is going to be the star! Okay, not the star, but an extra. A bright yellow extra. I’m telling you, this idea – it can’t fail!
At least that’s the thesis floated by Automotive News to help explain why is so stoked over with its compact van. Beginning in late 2013, the entire New York City taxi fleet will be converting to Nissan’s aesthetically challenged people mover, which will replace the ubiquitous Ford Crown Victoria.
Whether this leads to any burnishing of the Nissan brand remains to be seen, but regardless, AN says the contract is worth 40,000 units in New York alone over the next 10 years. We have to expect that at least some taxi companies outside of the Big Apple won’t be shy about ponying up the thirty-large Nissan is asking for its Mexican-made cab either, as the day when every last Ford Crown Victoria extant has joined the in cabbie Valhalla is certainly coming.
Got 13 minutes to spare? Of course you do – it’s a Friday. Then we’ve got just the way to burn them.
has posted three new SRT videos, the first being a nice seven-minute documentary about Viper history, from its origins to the present.
We’re happy to see the automaker make no attempts to distort the truth here, wisely including period footage of both Carroll Shelby and Bob Lutz, despite the fact that those two automotive legends currently work for its most bitter rivals, and General Motors, respectively. The inclusion of a clip from the Viper TV series, however, was perhaps a less inspired choice. We’d have left that on the cutting room floor in favor of more racing footage, like maybe something from Le Mans.
The second video is three minutes of Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of SRT Brand and Motorsports at Chrysler. Gilles walks us around a static Viper, explaining some of the details in the design that might escape a casual observer – and help the new Viper hit 206 miles per hour.
The final video goes inside Conner Avenue Assembly in Detroit where Chrysler builds the Viper. So maybe Chrysler employees like Shelly Brown Alore, the operations manager at the plant, aren’t quite the celebrity that Gilles is, but then again, we’re exactly the type of car nerds that actually find this stuff interesting.
The has been a bit polarizing since it went on sale last year. And the debate could get more animated if the Korean company does what we think it’s thinking about doing.
At a recent gathering of reporters and executives in Ann Arbor, MI, where the annual takes place every summer, we asked Hyundai Motors America chief John Krafcik what he planned to bring this year (the college town is also home to Hyundai America Technical Center). Last year, they showed off the new Veloster.
Redone ? New ? Neither seems appropriate for the tone of the event. So, we threw this out: “How about chopping the top off the Veloster and see the reaction?”
Krafcik and PR man Jim Trainor started trying to make poker faces, indicating to us that we may well have stumbled on to a future project, Rolling Sculpture or no. But we aren’t sure.
Some thought the Veloster was an answer to a question that nobody had been asking, but the unique coupe is proving to be a great sales and image success for Hyundai. Krafcik has shown a great instinct for design and engineering the Hyundai lineup to successful heights: redesigns of the , , and now Santa Fe. He also had a lot to do with the cleanup of the Azera, and, of course, the and . A former product development executive at , it’s hard to think he would not be the current product development chief in Dearborn had he stayed, and not been scooped up by Hyundai a decade ago.
Hyundai’s sales have been supply constrained on many of its models, including the Veloster. Given a finite supply of Veloster models that it can source from Korea, Krafcik plans to emphasize production of the . That strikes us as a smart move.
We’re excited about the turbo, but we couldn’t resist asking a rendering artist to imagine the Veloster sans roof. What do you think? Is topless a good thing in this case?
Commercials are a great way to learn about culture; since a seller has maybe 30 seconds to get something across, you see what people think is the most important thing to convey and the best way to convey it.
Having said that, we have no clue what’s going on with some of the South Korean ads for the 2013 . In a couple of them, a genteel pair – we’ll call them Run CUV and Jam Master – lays down some mad lyrics, presumably about the Santa Fe. When they’re not rapping, they’re set in short episodic dramas to demonstrate the crossover’s features. We’re not sure if the pair are famous in Korea and frankly, we have no idea what they’re talking about, but they look fun while they’re doing it.
for your Asian commercial fix for the day. You won’t be disappointed.
Former Chairman and current investor Ray Lane is blaming Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for the delays in procuring federal loans that have been earmarked for the maker of the extended-range plug-in and the upcoming Atlantic, according to Delaware Online.
In an e-mail, Lane said Romney is mistakenly grouping the Fisker loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with money given to failed companies like solar-panel producer Solyndra. Lane, managing director at venture-capital company Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, said in the alleged e-mail that he’s planning to contact Romney, whose father George Romney was once president of American Motors Corp.
The Fisker issue is particularly acute in Delaware, where the automaker had planned to expand employment and build a production version of the (a.k.a. Project Nina) shown above at a former General Motors factory. Those plans have been as Fisker sorts out its financial situation. Delaware Online reported late last week that Fisker had at the factory, which was characterized as “absolutely empty.”
The company was set to receive $529 million in federal loans but has only received a fraction of that and hasn’t received funding since last year.
Of course you all know who that man in the picture is, don’t you? He’s Jeremy Clarkson, one of the stars of Top Gear, the BBC’s hilarious automotive variety show. Its 18th series just premiered on BBC America this past Monday, with more new episodes airing Mondays at 8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT.
We include this preamble because the powers that be at the BBC have kindly suggested that if we want to use this photo of their Mr. Clarkson, we do so “for show promotion only.”
Now that we’ve taken care of that, we’ll get on with the news, which of course, pertains to the aforementioned celebrity rankling yet another group in Britain. This time it’s a result of Clarkson’s commentary in The Sun newspaper, calling people who commit suicide by jumping under trains “selfish,” suggesting that trains should be put back on schedule after these incidents as soon as possible. According to a report by Press Gazette, five groups who assist suicide victims and their families have complained to the Press Complaints Commission, stating their belief that Clarkson and his newspaper employer violated a clause pertaining to “intrusion into grief.”
The Sun apologized, according to the report, removed Clarkson’s column from its website and agreeing to train its staff in reporting suicide sensitively, among other concessions.
Given Clarkson’s long history of seemingly attempting to offend everyone in Britain, from to , if not the world (particularly ), we wonder if he’ll actually be forced to complete the training. And if he does, we can only imagine what an amazing BBC special that might make.
In the market for an entry-level sedan from a premium automaker? Your choices are few and far between, it seems. There’s the and , but those are both hatchbacks. That leaves the , which, by all accounts, is a credible entry into the segment. If that’s not quite your style, hopes to tempt you with its new 2013 , and it has announced that the base model will start at $25,900 (*plus $895 destination fee for all models).
For that starting price, buyers will get standard features like Bluetooth connectivity, keyless access with push-button start, Pandora internet radio interface and a moonroof. If you want a leather interior, 17-inch alloy wheels, upgraded audio and Acura’s excellent multi-view backup camera system, your ILX will start at $29,200 with the base 150-horsepower 2.0-liter engine and five-speed automatic transmission.
Acura has two more engine offerings for the ILX, including a 1.5-liter hybrid model that achieves estimated fuel economy ratings of 39 city and 38 highway for $28,900. On the other end of the spectrum is a 2.4-liter model, which pumps out 201 horsepower and is available only with a six-speed manual gearbox. A fully loaded ILX with the Technology package, which includes navigation and an internal hard drive for music storage, will cost $31,400 with the 2.0 or $34,400 with the hybrid drivetrain. Sadly, it’s not possible to order the 2.4-liter engine with the top-level Technology kit.
See the complete pricing breakdown in Acura’s official press release by , and stay tuned for our complete first drive review of the ILX early next week.
We last saw the on the floor at the in March. It was hardly an opportune moment to relish the automaker’s stunning new two-seater, however, as we were forced to dodge the crowds while shooting images for our . Wanting to get a closer second look at the exceedingly rare exotic and shoot a more detailed photo montage, we visited Galpin Aston Martin in Southern California for a private viewing (astute readers may recall that several years ago we ).
Beneath this example’s glossy Diavolo Red paint, mounted within the all-alloy aluminum monocoque platform, is the powerful running gear of a (a car we called “an intoxicating machine masterfully engineered to gratify every emotion in a car enthusiast’s soul” in our ). In a nutshell, the rear-wheel drive V12 Zagato features a naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12 (rated at 510 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque), a rear mid-mounted transaxle and a traditional six-speed manual gearbox. Ever so slightly lighter than the V12 Vantage, the V12 Zagato will crack the 60 mph benchmark in about four seconds and not run out of steam until about 190 mph. to continue reading.
Remember the rumors of working just below the ? The evidence trail was so faint that we called it “the most speculative sort of specualtion” when we posted on it six months ago. The trail and the car just got a lot hotter now that the very three-door hatch in question, the M135i, has been spotted burning serious gas around the Nürburgring.
Juice will come from BMW’s N55 inline-six cylinder with somewhere around 320 horsepower, and we’re told there will in fact be an all-wheel-drive version to follow. This will put BMW at ground zero of the small luxury hot hatch battle alongside the 350-horsepower and 340-horsepower Audi RS3. That gives us one more thing to remember: even if the Benz comes in at 340 hp there’ll be 1,000 horsepower between just these three cars in a segment best known for frugal luxury, which means the good old days in this segment are still on the way.
Alfa Romeos were meant to be on sale here after summer, but we all know that’s not happening. Nevertheless, lentamente, Alfa Romeo’s return to the U.S. progresses. According to a story in Automotive News, was earlier this month granted the U.S. trademark for “Alfa Romeo 4C” for the car and ancillaries. We can at least take that as certain; Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne’s statement that the 4C will go on sale at the end of 2013 we’ll take with a bit more caution.
is in Italy, and the is projected to go on sale in Europe early next year. Only 2,500 will be made per annum, and here they’ll give Alfa a much needed halo car to entice less spendy buyers into showrooms and into giving other Alfa models – and the brand itself – a chance.
We know the 4C will eventually be joined by the based Giulia sedan and a crossover or two. As for when, well, you can circle late 2013 on your calendar. In pencil.
Ever get the feeling that not every grand prix on the Formula One calendar should be worth as much as every other? Aside from the bragging points that go with winning a race like, say, the Monaco Grand Prix, maybe the most prominent races should be worth more championship points, too? So says Bernie Ecclestone, according to the latest reports.
The notoriously outspoken F1 supremo is always hatching new ideas on how to make the series more interesting, and his latest borrows from the world of competitive tennis. The four most important tournaments on the tennis circuit – the Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon – are not only more prominent in every way than any other, but they’re also worth more points for the players who win them.
Since the current calendar of 20 races is the most F1 has ever seen and regarded as the most it could possibly accommodate, could awarding more points for a handful of iconic races be what the proverbial doctor ordered to mix things up? Maybe, but identifying which races would get the honor would be another matter. Out of 20 races, we’d pick Australia, Japan, Britain, Monaco, Canada and Brazil as the likely candidates. Is this a good idea? Have your own list in mind? Let’s hear your thoughts in Comments.
We’ve got to hand it to of Europe – this is one of the most brilliant marketing stunts we’ve ever seen. Blending the correct amounts of populist outrage, mockery of the common man, hidden cameras, big budget technology, and gritty urban realism into one literal over-the-top promotion that – get this – is actually relevant to the vehicle it is designed to promote? Well, we’re impressed, to say the least.
We won’t spoil the punchline to the video, created by ad agency Ogilvy of Paris (according to Co.Create), but for anyone who’s ever had to suffer through living in a big city and parking on the street, you’ll be pleased.
And for those of you who might occasionally do a little park-by-touch yourself? Ford’s new with Active Park Assist is just the vehicle for you.
Color us unsurprised. Car and Driver reports that officials have confirmed a production version of the company’s concept first shown at the in March. We expected as much – after all, parent has demonstrated real adeptness at building a myriad of derivatives from the basic architecture, and the boutique brand already markets more spinoffs than Law & Order, so what’s one more?
Essentially a panel van version of the , C/D says the Clubvan will appear in U.S. showrooms this September as a 2013 model. It isn’t immediately clear if the model will offer both the standard 121-horsepower four and the Clubman S’ 181-horsepower turbo, but C/D says we shouldn’t expect a John Cooper Works version.
Interestingly, it doesn’t appear that Mini will weld in sheet steel where the Clubman’s rear side windows normally go – instead, C/D reports the company will employ body-color foil on the outside and plastic and safety foil liners inside. Other changes will include a trimmed-out cargo hold with power sockets and tie-downs. As with the concept, a stainless-steel grille will be fitted to keep cargo from intruding on the passenger compartment.
No word yet on whether the loss of rear seats will make the Clubvan any lighter, but Mini says the vehicle will offer more cargo capacity than its passenger-minded brethren. No guidance yet on pricing, either, but we’re guessing that like other Mini models, boutiques and delivery services will have to shell out a pretty penny to get their hands on this dutch-door cutie. Our only question now is… how long will it take for Mini to come out with a panelized version of its softroader?
If you’ve been waiting for someone to combine R/C cars and Ken Block’s brand of gymkhana, you’ll want to pay a visit to Hot Wheels. The toy maker has of Block’s rallying , and after you load the required eight AA batteries you’ll be drifting it around corners WRC-style in much less time than it took Block to learn his craft.
We won’t mention the center-mounted wheel under the car that makes it all a bit easier. Instead, you can to see a video of Ken Block writ small for yourself.
In between bouts of Olympic games, the official torch that traditionally kicks off the opening ceremonies makes the long journey by a relay of runners to the host site. And you can bet that over the course of years, it has passed through some tricky environmental conditions. But is it ready to endure the unpredictability of British weather?
To find out, – a main sponsor of the fast-approaching London Olympics – lent its wind tunnel facility to test the torch in a variety of conditions. Over the course of the grueling test, the torch was made to withstand temperatures ranging from 23 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, winds generated at upwards of 50 mph, with snow packed into the front and under driving rain. But all the while the flame stayed lit.
The tests were carried out at the BMW Energy and Environmental Test Centre in Munich, a facility which boasts three wind tunnels and two climatic test rooms capable of simulating weather from -4F to 131F, replicating the Arctic Tundra and the Sahara Desert, generating wind speeds at up to 174 mph, and simulating altitudes approaching 14,000 feet above sea level.
Watch a video of the testing procedure shown on the UK’s ITV1 news by .
We can now add a rendering and a litte more gossip to and its recent designation. GM has used the SS designator for more than 50 years but only got around to trademarking it five years ago, and persistent rumors have suggested that a civilian version of the will simply be called the SS.
previously confirmed that its next NASCAR entry will be , which suggests that the and are disqualified. But a new car called the SS would fit, and the rumormill suggests it will be a derivative of the Zeta-platform Holden Commodore. The folks at Chris Doane Automotive have opened the rendering account and taken this rather conservative stab at what a reboot of a U.S. Commodore might look like.
Yes, we’ve been here before, and in fact, we’re still here. The now extinct but universally lauded was itself a Americanized Holden Commodore, and the current Caprice law enforcement vehicle is a long-wheelbase version of that Holden that packs either a 3.6-liter, 301-horsepower V6 or a 6.0-liter, 355-hp V8. Resurrecting the G8 would return a vehicle that many loved but was handicapped by Pontiac’s zombie status, improve Holden’s fortunes and give Chevy a proper rear-wheel drive sedan with teeth. To all of that, we say Yes, Yes and… Yes.
